The clarion., 1887-04-27
A Seven-Times Killer.

4
lengthy account OF the killing by Mr..
Walter Ridgely of all the male members
Of the Murphy family.
Mr. Ridgely is a native OF Red River
county, Texas, and is "a years of age He
was educated at Princeton, \. j., but re-
turning home in 1873 and soon tiring of
farm life he sought and obtained employ
ment by Custer as scout, and did good /
service in the campaign against Sitting
Bull, being at Gen. Reno's headquarters at |
the time of the massacre of Clusters COM
mand on the Little Big Horn. From this |
time on Ridgely did not engage perma- |
nently in any occupation till called home |
by his fathers death in 1882. Since the
latter event he has been living on the farm. |
He Is represented to be courteous, gener-
GUS hearted gentleman, an obliging neigh
Dor, sober, industrious, quiet, honored and
loved by all, regardless of race or color.
His home is on Red River, in Texas, some
twenty-eight miles from Texarkana.
Ridgely's rupture with the Murphys was
Murphy kept ferry some eight miles
from Ridgely's home, at Ropemeyer's store,
and they charged drummer s. for bring
ing him across the river from the Indian
Territory, when the regular toll was 90
cents, which amount the drummer had
paid to the Murphys when he was cross
ing from the Texas side The drummer
refused to pay the exorbitant charge and
the Murphys seized his sample case and
said that they would keep ii for pay.
They carried the sample case to the store
of Ropemeyer, the drummer following
| them, and when there, where were congre-
gated number OF neighborhood farmers,
among whom was Ridgely, the drummer
told Of the imposition that was about to
be practieed on him. Ridgely asked the
Murphys If the drummer's story was true.
They answered that it was. Then Ridgely
| told them that they had better not carry
| their joke any further and that they ought
to take the 80 cents and give up the sample
case. A quarrel ensued and Ridgeiy
threatened the .Iurphys with the grand
jury, when they both sprang at him. He
| knocked the foremost one down. The
other halted and reached for his pistol but
| Ridgely was too quick for him and dropped
him dead in his tracks. The knocked
down Murphy, having recovered, tried to
draw his pistol and was also shot down
and died the next day This was on the
Sd of March. Upon preli minary exami-
nation Ridgely was discharged on the
ground Of seif-defense.
few days afterwards a brother and an
neighborhood and made repeated threats
that they would kill Ridgely at the first
opportunity. Ridgely kept out OF the
way; but on the 22d OF March he found il
necessary to go to a neighbor's, and, return
ing between sunset and dark, he was way
laid and fired on by the Murphys from al
ambush. His horse was killed and he, un
hurt, fell on the opposite side Of the horse
!, from that whence the firing proceeded
Not stirring or making any noise, the Mur
phys, thinking him dead, left their cover
and walked toward him but when within
eight feet Of their intended victim, he sud
denly arose with six-shooter in eithe
hand and began firing upon them. They
were both killed before they could recove
from their surprise.
Within week the only two survivin.
brothers OF the dead ferrymen, and thei
only surviving uncle came into the neigh
borhood swearing vengeance, and boldl,
declaring that they would either Kill
: Ridgely or take the same medicine he haC
given their klnsmen. Ridgely staid a
home closely but at 2 o'clock on tn
morning of the Sth of April, hearing
noise in his BAN, he dressed himself a
quickly as possible, and taking with hin
pair of revolvers, hurried out to Sc,
what was the matter. He passed a room
in which some of his hired men were sleep
ing and told them to follow quickly
When inside the barn-yard ne was fired a
. by some one who sprang suddenly from
behind wagon. The ball passed througl
Ridgely's hat, who, dropping to his knees
and firing almost at random, brough
down his man. Ridgely then rose an,
started in the direction of the man he ha,
; shot down, when two more men rose from
) the ground and advanced on him, firing a
! they came. He responded. A number o
shots were exchanged. When all wa
quiet there lay on the ground in the barn
yard two dead Murphys and one mortal.
wounded. Ridgley, himself, was shot il
the left arm and right breast, but will re
cover
The story of the series OF encounters be
tween Ridgley and the Murphys, is a re
markable one. Indeed, we doubt if an,
one person ever before killed SO many O
r bis fellow-men in personal encounters, jus
e tifably.
The Republican has four-column ac
count Of the thrilling occurrences, accom-
panied by diagram giving the relat V
| location Of all the noints mentioned